The Plenary of the regional Chamber has rejected this Wednesday a Non-Law Proposal (PNL) from the Socialist Parliamentary Group to implement a Sports Bonus of 200 euros aimed at children and young people from the most needy families for the acquisition of sports equipment or the realization of sports activities under excuses from the parties that support the Canary Coalition (CC) and Popular Party (PP) Government, such as "let the State pay for it", ignoring the precedents in other Communities.
The initiative, defended by the socialist deputy Marcos Bergaz, requested the reinforcement and expansion of school sports programs aimed at students between 6 and 16 years old, promoting an inclusive, egalitarian, and accessible sports practice, which prioritizes participation and well-being over competitiveness.
In this sense, the proposal incorporated the creation of a Sports Bonus, with a value of two hundred euros, aimed at children and young people between 6 and 16 years old who were federated in a sports discipline or registered in a sports program recognized by the autonomous community.
Bergaz explained that this bonus would be destined for the acquisition of sports equipment or participation in sports activities, constituting a measure of economic support for families that do not exceed the family income threshold that is determined by taking as a reference the Public Indicator of Income for Multiple Effects (IPREM), with the objective of cover part of the expenses associated with regulated sports practice in the archipelago.
It was also proposed that specific accessibility measures be guaranteed in the Sports Bonus to facilitate the participation of minors with functional diversity, eliminating physical, economic, and social barriers, as well as establishing agreements with local businesses to join the sports bonus program, thus promoting local commerce.
The initiative also incorporated the development of awareness and dissemination campaigns on the benefits of sports on the physical, mental, and social health of children and adolescents, promoting their regular practice as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Finally, it was intended to establish evaluation and monitoring mechanisms for the programs and aid promoted, in order to guarantee their effectiveness, improve their coverage, and ensure that they reach families and environments with the greatest needs.
Specifically, each beneficiary would have a single bonus, with a value of up to 200 euros, which would be applied as an 80% discount on the amount of sports products or services purchased in establishments adhering to the program, duly identified with the official distinctive.
The system would be implemented through a mobile application to manage the bonus in a simple way. The amount would be deducted based on the value of each purchase or service, and can be used in one or more sports entities or participating businesses, until the available balance is exhausted. This bonus could be used both for the purchase of sports equipment and for attending organized activities. This program would offer a significant discount for the acquisition of sports products and services, thus facilitating access for more families to these opportunities and promoting an active and healthy lifestyle among the young population.
Bergaz during his speech highlighted that, "it would be positive to enable this bonus linked to the economic capacity of families to help them ensure that their children have access to a basic, formative, healthy and happiness-generating good such as sports."
For the socialist deputy, "it would also help to overcome physical, economic and social barriers, and would contribute to local commerce and activities, through the signing of collaboration agreements with entities and businesses in each of the municipalities of the Canary Islands."
"Even more so with the importance that sport has in these times, for the values it represents, for contributing to the physical and mental health of people, for being an essential instrument of integration," he added.
According to the socialist deputy, "it is a pity that the parties that support the Canarian Government, CC and PP, have rejected the proposal, preventing the opportunity that this bonus would have for the promotion of grassroots sports and help to the most needy Canarian families with children between 6 and 16 years old," he concluded.